Episode 12: Potential
Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner

This takes place some time after the events of the last episode. Spike and Buffy are training the Potentials. Buffy has Spike attack her; she fights him and makes to stake him, but notices he is in some pain. She shows concern for him and he reassures her that he's going to be fine as the Potentials look on in interest. The next day, Buffy is lecturing the Potentials on what it means to be Chosen as Dawn watches, feeling neglected. Buffy goes to work and meets with Amanda, one fo the students from "Help." Amanda is having boy trouble, and Buffy can't help relating her problems to her own confusion over Spike. Later, Willow reveals that the coven has located another Potential--in Sunnydale. Buffy wonders if she should postpone her patrol with Spike and the Potentials, but Willow urges her to go. Willow does the spell, which indicates Dawn is the Potential. Dawn is overwhelmed and goes to her room while the others argue about whether to tell Buffy. Buffy and Spike take the Potentials to a demon bar where they run into Clem. Dawn sneaks out a window and runs into Amanda, who has just survived an attack from a vampire. Dawn tells Amanda she will help her. They return to the school and find the vamp, who attacks them. Meanwhile, Buffy and Spike have taken the Potentials to a crypt where some vamps have been nesting. They find a dead body--a vampire, which attacks. Buffy fights the vampire, lecturing about technique, intercut with Dawn fighting her vampire, doing the opposite of what Buffy is saying. Buffy fights the vamp for a while, then she and Spike lock the Potentials in the crypt with the stake. Meanwhile, Willow, Xander and Anya discover Dawn is gone. Willow does a locator spell to find her. As the vamp attacks Dawn, the Bringers enter, followed shortly thereafter by Buffy, Spike and Xander. Buffy and Spike dispatch the Bringers. Later, the Potentials celebrate their first slay, and Dawn and Xander talk about whether you need superpowers to be special.